Barnard Castle Prep School's French themed tea party raises £400 for Epilepsy in Action

The cause is close to Barnard Castle School’s heart after Lewis Thirling, son of teacher, Donna Thirling, was diagnosed aged just nine-years-old.

Now 20, Mr Thirling, of Barnard Castle, left the senior school five years ago.

Along with his mum, he praised the school’s efforts to raise funds for the charity as well as educating the children, aged four to 11, after they were given an assembly on the condition and its impact in the lead up to the event.

Mrs Thirling said: “It is good to instil in children a positive attitude towards giving and helping others.

“Today they have donated money in return for tea and cakes, but they have also involved their parents, who have as ever been extremely generous in their donation of food, but also in their time, helping to serve on a rota basis throughout the day.”

The event itself had a French theme, with specialist French teacher Clare Bale on hand throughout the party to help the children use the language when ordering their tea and cake.

Mrs Bale said: “It helps to give the children confidence, knowing what they have learnt in class they can use in real life situations.”

A slide show in French and French music was also included to prepare the current year five and six pupils for their annual trip to Paris.

Epilepsy is a condition that affects the brain and causes repeated seizures.

Michael White, fundraising events officer at Epilepsy in Action, said: “We’re very grateful to the staff, students and friends of Barnard Castle Prep School for their long tradition of fundraising for Epilepsy in Action.

“There are over 25,000 people with epilepsy across the North-East and around one in ten of them will be a child.

“The money everyone at Barnard Castle has helped to raise over the past ten years will make a huge difference to the lives of people with epilepsy in the North-East and across the whole of the UK.”